Submitted by Aly Miller for Homes First
Working in the affordable housing space for over 30 years, we at Homes First understand that our community is filled with innumerous everyday heroes, often unseen, who work tirelessly to make a positive impact on the lives of our neighbors.
Homes First was founded by a group of such individuals, who united in an unwavering belief that everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to live. We are grateful to carry this mission forward as we continue to work to address the housing crisis in Thurston County. This is no small task, and our work is immensely uplifted and supported through the collective efforts of countless people and organizations in our community.
In order to honor and thank the heroes in our community, Homes First hosts an annual Awards & Celebration event each spring to acknowledge those making strides towards addressing the housing crisis in our community. To keep the celebration organic and close to our community’s heart, each year’s heroes are selected by the previous year’s heroes. For our 2023 celebration, we were delighted to honor three outstanding women who are leading with heart in their work to promote safe and sustainable housing for all in our community.
One of our heroes is Tye Gundel. Tye is not just a dedicated community leader, she’s also a beacon of hope in her work with Olympia Mutual Aid Partners and Capital Recovery Center. Her extensive community partnerships and grassroots efforts include compassionate action that provided supportive services to people living in encampments and allowed them to safely shelter in place.
We’ve also had the honor to recognize Christina Janis. As the State Director of the Washington Realtors Association, Christina uses her expertise and leadership to build a stronger Thurston County. She volunteers for the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen and Bell Ringing, Olympia Master Builders Board, South Sound Military Community Partners, Thurston County Chambers of Commerce, All Kids Win, Relay for Life Cancer Association, MLSA Thurston County, Rebuilding Together, South Sound Habitat for Humanity, and of course, Homes First.
Last, but certainly not least, is Olivia Henderson. Her lifelong desire to be of service and enduring positivity has fueled years of service, including the establishment of a 24/7 year-round shelter. As the Executive Director at Sidewalk, Olivia’s empathetic and heart-led approach are inspiring real change to the delivery of housing assistance to vulnerable members of the Thurston County community.
What unites each of these community heroes is a commitment to showing up in a positive way, diving deep into the heart of our community to collaborate and bring about meaningful change. The overall wellness and sustainability of our community truly depends on the individuals like these that step out of their personal lives and share their talents, time, and heart to make a difference. We cannot thank you enough!
To read more about Tye, Christina, and Olivia and their amazing community impacts, please visit the Homes First webpage. If you would like to connect with us and share in the celebration of our community heroes, we want to extend an open invitation to the community to join us at next year’s event in the spring! Follow us on social media or register for our community newsletter to receive updates on this, and other opportunities to engage with Homes First and our community partners.
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